You know someone emailed you the document. You just can't remember who.
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Use Outlook's attachment search and filtering controls to find a forgotten invoice, quotation, contract, spreadsheet or PDF without browsing every message.
You know somebody emailed it. An invoice, quotation, contract, spreadsheet or PDF. You just cannot remember who sent it, when they sent it or what the subject said.
So you start opening messages one at a time. Stop. Search the mailbox for messages with attachments first.
Classic Outlook
In Classic Outlook for Windows, click the Search box above the message list and type the supported search query:
hasattachments:yesPress Enter. This returns messages with attachments in the current search scope. You can also click in the Search box to show the Search ribbon and select Has Attachments. The scope is normally the current mailbox or folder, so check that before assuming an old message is missing.
New Outlook
New Outlook uses a different interface. Click Search and enter a useful word, such as the sender's name or a word describing the document. Select Files to show attachment-related results. You can also open the search filter and select Attachments, or use the Has attachments refinement. In the message list, Microsoft also documents Sort > Has files to show messages with attachments.
Classic Outlook and New Outlook do not have identical controls. Use hasattachments:yes and the Has Attachments button for Classic Outlook; use Files, Attachments/Has attachments or Sort > Has files in New Outlook.
Add one thing you remember
- Remember the company? Search the company name with the attachment filter.
- Remember roughly when? Add a date range or use the available date filter.
- Remember it was a PDF? Search for a distinctive file or message term where your Outlook version supports it.
- Remember one word from the email? Add that word rather than trying to reconstruct the whole subject.
Search works best when you start with one distinctive clue. Do not browse your inbox when Outlook can narrow it for you.
Sources and related reading
Microsoft Support: Find all messages with attachments in Outlook →
Plain-English Takeaway
Search for the attachment first, then add the one thing you remember — sender, date, keyword or file name. Use the control that matches your Outlook version.
Frequently asked questions
Does hasattachments:yes work in New Outlook?
Microsoft documents hasattachments:yes for Classic Outlook. In New Outlook, use Files, the Attachments or Has attachments refinement, or Sort > Has files instead of assuming the Classic Outlook interface applies.
Can I narrow the attachment results?
Yes. Start with the attachment control and add a distinctive sender, date range, subject word or file-related keyword using the search box and filters available in your version.
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